Out of 26 million Texans, you may have an idea to change the world. You may have had several ideas to change the world. But only a tiny minority of you pushed through the U.S. Patent office from application to successful patent. We've seen Texans change the world many times over. Jack Kilby did it with Texas Instruments in 1958 with the integrated circuit, causing the start of the digital revolution, which, in part, is why you can read these words over your electronic device.
Over the last few years, Texas Business has brought its feature: Texas Business Patent of the Day. This list is of the ones that were either extremely clever, odd or strange. One thing becomes apparent from these patents and the patent that runs daily in Texas Business—Texans have a unique mind set.
Though the history of the Corn Dog is disputed, the State Fair of Texas claims to have introduced the Corny Dog sometime between 1938 and 1942. As a paean to that invention that now sits in the freezer section of every grocery store in the southwest, here are the fried foods the State Fair of Texas has introduced, or tried to introduce, in the last seven years.
Dead Texas musicians live on every time you hear their songs. Their songs play everywhere, so the dead Texas musicians appear to be immortal. Here's the short list.
Don't get caught up with John Wayne religion. For one thing, he's not Texan. He's in some fine movies involving Texas, most notably The Searchers, but none of his movies can make the best cut of Texas movies. Here's the short list.
Unsung Texas Business Journalists Mention that one is a reporter, and there's a spark of interest. Mention that one is a business news reporter, and watch the eyes glaze over. Except to the players, business and economic journalists are unappreciated. While many wish to become sports reporters when they grow up, most do not realize that business journalists cover the Real Game. Mention that reporter covers business, and watch the eyes glaze over. A toast to these below on the short list and the numerous unnamed ones slogging away. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Best Texas Mexican Food: The Short List No, we're not going to debate the difference between Tex-Mex, Mex-Tex, Mexican and Texican food. Just know these establishments are the pinnacle of Texas Mexican fare. No brag, just fact. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Best Texas Burgers Texas Burgers. . While a hamburger is merely sustenance and gratification for a meal, the memory a good Texas burger can give rise to Homeric odes. The short list. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Texas Business reports: BUDA—U.S. Foodservice-Austin broke ground today on a new 290,000-square-foot, $50-million food distribution facility for its south central Texas market.
Construction on the new center at Turnersville Road and Hays County Road 118 is expected to be completed by October 2011. The sale of the 40-acre site was finalized earlier this month.
“We are proud to be a part of this terrific community,” said U.S. Foodservice-Austin Division President John Fowler in a prepared statement. “Today's event represents the opportunity to offer a wider range of products to our customers, increase our workforce and operate from a more efficient, state-of-the-art building.”
Fowler led the expansion planning effort for the past three years.
Officials project the current workforce of about 250 will increase to more than 400 over the next decade.
The new facility will serve 2,800 U.S. Foodservice-Austin customers.
Road improvements around the site will soon be under way, funded initially through a Texas Capital Fund grant and Hays County funds. Monies are projected to be recouped over 20 years of U.S. Foodservice tax revenues.
The facility design meets the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED certification requirements for commercial buildings which cover a number of environmental metrics including energy consumption, water usage and air quality. Energy-efficient lighting, no-water landscaping, and better fleet management will be among the new building's environmentally-friendly features. Because of the location's close proximity to Interstate 35, delivery trucks will have better access – resulting in reduced idle time and lower carbon emissions, Fowler said.
The new location, about 20 miles south of the existing U.S. Foodservice-Austin facility, adds 100,000 additional square-feet of warehouse space to the division's current footprint. The current site, which dates back to the 1960s, is operating at 117 percent of capacity in a 184,000-square-foot facility. The new site also has space to add up to 200,000 additional square-feet to the facility.
The Texas News Scrawl is a handy reference to stories Texas Business recommends from other news sources. Some of the stories that Texas Business currently suggests include: Pipeline ruling strengthens Texas private property rights; Texas Bowl seeks new title sponsor; Insult to Injury: Texas Workers’ Comp System Denies, Delays Medical Help; American Airlines continues to shed jobs; Chemical Safety Board shut out of West probe by ATF; America’s greatest threat: Unsafe work conditions; The West News proves the value of a great weekly newspaper in a community torn up with grief and chaos; and more.
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